22 proves a lucky number for Diane and John

09 Dec 2015

Christmas has come early for North Tyneside resident Diane Vallely after entering a competition from local bus operator Stagecoach North East, and she is now the proud owner of an iPad!

33-year-old Diane from Forest Hall entered the company’s ‘Club 22’ competition, launched in November to promote the new 22 bus service to Cobalt Park and Silverlink, with 22 prizes up for grabs, including a £100 and £20 retail vouchers and free monthly or weekly bus travel.

To enter the competition, Diane, who works at Cobalt Park for EE, had to give a reason why the number 22 was connected to her, for the chance to enter the prize draw and win the top prize. Diane had some excellent reasons, as she explains: “After reading about the competition I laughed to myself, as I must have heard the kids say ‘Mam’ 22 times that morning before I even left the school yard, and my address also includes the number 22.

“I couldn't believe it when I got the email to say I'd won the iPad Air...I shouted I'd won an iPad to my family and my husband gave me that look thinking I'd fallen for some scam!

“We don't currently have an iPad in our household and both of our children had been asking for one this Christmas so they're really excited for it coming. Thank you so much! I have two very happy children!”

John Simmons, 47 from Gosforth, who works at G4S Utilities at Cobalt Park, won a week’s free bus travel, which he is going to donate to a friend as he cycles to work. He said: “I bought a rugby shirt for training in many years ago, as I used to play, and it has the number 22 on the back, so I thought why not have a go! I didn’t expect to win so it is a nice surprise.”

The company will be including some of the ‘22’ connections ideas as designs, which will be featured on the back of a selection of buses on the route.

Helen Martin, Marketing Manager at Stagecoach North East, said: “We thank everyone for taking part in the competition and are delighted to hear that the prizes have proved popular. We had some great entries to the competition and so many links to the number 22, it certainly created some funny and quirky ideas. Congratulations to all the winners.”

Stagecoach North East announced the extension of its route 22 bus service in Newcastle, which now provides new links from Wallsend to Silverlink shopping park and Cobalt business park in North Tyneside.

Stagecoach also offers a direct express service via its 22X bus during the morning and evening peaks between the city centre and Cobalt, plus two late buses on weekdays.

The 22 serves Silverlink seven days a week, with buses every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday during the day, and every 20 minutes during evenings and Sundays, running as late as 11pm - bringing leisure and shopping opportunities to customers all day and every day.